Brian Richards
Doctor M. Popular@rzen two suggestions:
The Sage starter pack by YoTricks
https://yoyotricks.com/shop/sage-yoyo-starter-pack/
or the K2 Crystal
https://www.amazon.com/MAGICYOYO-Responsive-Replacement-Unresponsive-Intermediate/dp/B08J72SDMZ/ref=butts
Sage Yoyo Starter Pack | Buy Now Only on YoYoTricks.com
The Sage Yoyo Starter Pack is our #1 product for new yoyo players because it takes all the guess work out of getting started. We use the Sage Yoyo in almost all of our beginner tutorials so you have the confidence that the Sage can handle any trick you throw at it. This pack includes heavily discounted accessories.
@docpop awesome, thanks a ton!
He got a cheap swag variety trinket yoyo from an event a couple weeks back and it's held his interest. Conveniently, his birthday is this weekend which means we can take a still-inexpensive next step and see if interest builds or wanes.
@rzen this is probably too much info, but it's really hard for me to recommend a good starter yo-yo these days. The hobby has been shifting from responsive "tug response" yo-yos to unresponsive "bind return" yo-yos. Some kids like one, some like the other, and I'm hesitant to pick for them. The yo-yos I suggested can be converted, so your son can pick which style he prefers learning on. Have fun and let me know if you have any more questions.
@docpop I noticed that as I started my search! I'm just accomplished enough to throw a sleeper, walk the dog, and get the yoyo to re-wind itself after a stall. I never got beyond that, so my mind hasn't yet wrapped around how an unresponsive yoyo would ever return.
Time for some YouTube education!
@rzen how is the yo-yoing going?
@docpop Great! Thanks again for the suggestions. Dude is loving it. We went with the Magicyoyo K2 Crystal and he's been throwing it every day for a week now.
Yesterday I blew his mind by saying you recommended it, that I know you, and then showing off some of your YT shorts. đŸ˜„